Buffalo, NY

Bird Island Pier and Unity Island Park

Popular among walkers, runners, bikers, and fishermen, Bird Island Pier is a wonderful running path with great views of the Niagara River, Lake Erie, the Peace Bridge (which you’ll run under!), and the Buffalo skyline. Accessible from Broderick Park, the 136 acre long Bird Island Pier is also home to lots of birds and ducks. There are some War of 1812 history markers along the way. Built around 1825, the pier was recently improved and re-paved.  Be cautious about running in there in winter, or windy conditions.

A great longer run is to combine with Unity Island Park. From Broderick Park, it’s 2.2 miles south to the end of Bird Island Pier, and 1.4 miles to the end of Unity Park. So it’s about 7.5 miles to run a tour of both. Unity Island Park is not as well maintained as other Buffalo waterfront parks.

You can access the pier through the southern end of Broderick Park. Parking is best at the Ferry Street Bridge, but if it’s not open, parking is readily available at Unity Island Park.

Add-ons: Unity Island Park. It’s 1.4 miles from Broderick Park north to the end of Unity Island. Another add-on is the Riverwalk multi-use path, which goes along the Niagara River for 8.7 miles from Unity Island Park north to Tonawanda.

 

 

 

Essentials
  • From Broderick Park, Bird Island Pier path is 2.2 miles one-way south, and Unity Island Park is 1.8 miles one-way north. Whole tour is ~7.5 miles
  • Flat
  • Broderick Park
  • Parking at Ferry Street Bridge, Unity Island Park, or Broderick Park

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Rhodium
1 year ago

i’ve been wanting to get out onto the pier for a while now, but never really found out how to access it. Where does it start?

Essentials
  • From Broderick Park, Bird Island Pier path is 2.2 miles one-way south, and Unity Island Park is 1.8 miles one-way north. Whole tour is ~7.5 miles
  • Flat
  • Broderick Park
  • Parking at Ferry Street Bridge, Unity Island Park, or Broderick Park